The Open 2024: Why does the winner receive a claret jug?

It’s one of the most recognizable trophies in all of sport. Even if you’re not into golf, you’ll know the famous claret jug, which will be handed out to the winner of the 152nd Open Championship today. However, the winner of the tournament hasn’t always received a trophy.

In fact, the tournament's first prize was more in keeping with another of the sport’s majors, The Masters. But instead of a Green Jacket, the victor received a Challenge Belt made of red Morocco leather with silver buckles and emblems.

If any player won The Open, which was first contested in 1860, for three straight years, the player would get to own the belt. Young Tom Morris did just that from 1868 to 1870.

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With no trophy or belt, up for grabs, the tournament didn’t even go ahead in 1871 before a solution was found the following year between the three clubs that hosted the Championship – Prestwick, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews.

They decided that the champion would receive a medal and that each of the three clubs would contribute £10 towards the cost of a new trophy, which was to be a silver claret jug rather than another belt. It was officially named the Golf Champion Trophy, made in the style of 19th-century jugs, which served red wine from France’s Bordeaux region.

The new trophy couldn’t be handed out to the 1872 winner – Morris again – as it hadn’t been finished, but it was finally awarded to 1873 champion Tom Kidd. The original trophy was awarded up to 1927 when it was put on display at St Andrews, along with the original Challenge Belt, which was donated to the home of golf by the Morris family.

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A replica of the trophy was awarded at the 1928 tournament, won by Walter Hogan. Winners get to keep that version for a year or for the conclusion of their reign but get another replica to keep.

There are three other official replica jugs. One is kept in the British Museum of Golf at St Andrews while the other two are used for travelling exhibitions.

The recipient of the claret jug this year was anyone’s guess going into the final. Justin Rose and British qualifier Dan Brown were part of a six-way tie for second behind American Billy Horschel at Royal Troon, with the top 24 players separated by just six shots on a congested leaderboard.